Read This Article On The Star Tribune Many people say ABR is a funny name for a ski resort. I suppose that’s true. ABR stands for Active Backwoods Retreat. And despite its unusual acronym name, USA Today readers rated it the fourth-best cross-country ski resort...

Read This Article On The Star Tribune The answer to a common trivia question in Wisconsin is Timm’s Hill. That’s the highest point in the state, at 1,951.5 feet. But many Wisconsinites think our highest point is Rib Mountain (1,923 feet), a popular skiing...

Read This Article On The Star Tribune I didn’t know much about Big Bend National Park until a recent travel writing conference took me to El Paso, Texas. As always, I wanted to squeeze in some prime hiking, if possible. What I discovered is that if I drove about...

Read This Article On The Star Tribune Rock climbing never seemed enticing to me. That’s not surprising, since I have a fear of heights. But then I learned two things. First, Devil’s Lake State Park, near my home, is considered one of the best rock-climbing...

Read This Article On The Chicago Tribune White Sands National Park got its prestigious national park designation in December 2019. From 1933 to 2019, it was a national monument. When I visited White Sands, I had a blast hiking around the park. But the most...